GAME FOUR || SATURDAY, SEPT. 22, 2018 || 1 PM
MARSHALL, MINN. | MATTKE FIELD - SCHWAN REGIONAL EVENT CENTER
UPPER IOWA AT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
 
THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK FOOTBALL... Upper Iowa is coming off their biggest win of their 13-year run in NCAA Division II. The Peacocks scored their first win of the year last Saturday night in Fayette to cap off Hall of Fame Weekend after scoring three touchdowns in the final quarter to post a 34-33 victory over No. 11 Winona State University. The win was UIU's first over a nationally-ranked opponent at the NCAA Division II level. Upper Iowa travels to Marshall, Minn. to face the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State (0-3) this Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. The keys to a Peacock victory lie in UIU's ability to keep their offense balanced with the run and to continue to stifle the run game of their opponent as they did with the Warriors last Saturday.
 
LIVE OPTIONS… Fans that can't make the game in southern Minnesota can tune in AM 950 KOEL, follow the game online through live stats and a webcast at UIUPeacocks.com/Live, or stream the game live through the Stretch Internet app on Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple or Android TV.
 
THE SERIES... Southwest Minnesota State leads the all-time series 11-3 and had won nine straight games against Upper Iowa until last year when the Peacocks claimed a Homecoming 31-20 victory. Upper Iowa rushed for 365 yards in the game at Harms-Eischeid Stadium led by running back Ryan Parmely's 250 yards and backup quarterback Kyle Domin's 111 yards on the ground. The Peacock defense limited the Mustangs to just 20 yards rushing in the game turning their guests one-dimensional. Last time the teams were together in Marshall was 2016 and the game turned into a wild shootout that saw the Mustangs post a 59-42 victory after the teams combined for over 1,300 yards of total offense. SMSU held a 482-388 advantage in passing yards, while both teams rushed for over 200 yards. From 2011-14, the four matchups were decided by just twelve points combined; three were played in Marshall, Minn. The Mustangs won 28-24 in 2011 and 38-37 in 2012 before holding off a first and goal for UIU with under a minute to play in 2013 to claim a 52-48 win in Fayette.  In 2014, the Mustangs scored 14 fourth quarter points to claim a come-from-behind 28-25 win over UIU; the loss was UIU's first of the season after opening 5-0.  Three years ago, Upper Iowa took a 19-14 lead into halftime in Fayette, but the Mustangs put 20 points on the board in the second half while shutting out the Peacock offense to post a 34-19 victory. The first two UIU wins in the series came in 2004 (28-16) and in 2007 (39-27).
 
FIRST THINGS FIRST… The Peacock offense strives to get more than five yards on every first down play. The goal of the offense is to set up a second down that allows the entire playbook to remain open. Upper Iowa has seen their fair share of first downs this season; the Peacocks have moved the chains 68 times, which ranks fourth in the Northern Sun Conference and 28th in the country.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER… UIU's passing offense is averaging 317.3 yards per game and is ranked 8th in the nation and is the highest average in the NSIC. Quarterback Brent Lammers is completing 27 passes per game, which ranks 6 best in NCAA Division II and tops among NSIC quarterbacks. The senior from Manchester, Iowa has thrown for 930 yards (5th NCAA, 1st NSIC) and 8 touchdowns (9th NCAA, 1st NSIC). With the addition of his rushing yards, Lammers is averaging 338 yards of total offense per game, the 4th highest average in the country and tops in the conference.
 
BEHIND ENEMY LINES... UIU's defense is ranked 5th and 6th in  the Northern Sun Conference in tackles for loss (7.3/game) and sacks (2.3/game); the team is inside the top 55 in the country in both categories as well. Senior linebacker Jordan Rommes leads UIU with 6 tackles for loss (24th NCAA/2nd NSIC) and 2.5 sacks (51st NCAA/3rd NSIC). Jesse Hynek is sixth in the conference with 2 sacks and 12th in the Northern Sun with 3.5 tackles for loss, while Garrett Johnston is seventh in the NSIC with 4 tackles for loss. Johnston is also tied for the NCAA DII and NSIC lead in blocked kicks with two. Rommes and Mitchel Siech are leading UIU in tackles with 8.7 and 7.7 per game, respectively.
 
THE TURNOVER BATTLE... The Peacocks have turned their opponents over 7 times over the first three games by snagging 3 interceptions and forcing 4 fumbles. The 7 takeaways are 31st best in the nation and 3rd highest in the conference.
 
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS… (From the Southwest Minnesota State Sports Information Office) SMSU is coming off a 39-21 road loss to No. 24 Sioux Falls last Saturday night, while UIU earned its first win of the season with a come-from-behind 34-33 home win over nationally ranked Winona State. SMSU is looking to snap an 11-game losing streak that dates back to week four (Sept. 23) last season at Bemidji State. SMSU's last victory came on Sept. 16, 2017, versus Minot State. SMSU has rushed for just 88 total yards on 86 attempts in three weeks, while opponents have totaled 698 on 141 carries. SMSU was 7 for 14 on third down conversions in last week's loss at Sioux Falls. SMSU was a combined 7 for 33 on third down conversions the first two weeks. Senior quarterback Blake Gimbel has moved into sole possession of second place in team history with 737 completions. Josh Shudlick (2005-08) holds the school record with 769. Gimble has also moved into sole possession of third place in team history with 62 career touchdown passes. He needs two more to tie Steve Elzenga (1983-87) with 64.
 
THE BROADCAST TEAM... Play-by-play announcer, and 1991 Upper Iowa alum, Joe Stasi is in his 16th consecutive season as the "Voice of the Peacocks" and 18th overall. This week he will be joined by Warren Reyerson. The AM 950 KOEL pre-game show is scheduled for 12:30 a.m.